Knight Automotive Group’s Moose Jaw stores faced a common challenge in today’s market—how to acquire high-quality used vehicles without relying heavily on auctions or inconsistent trade-ins. To solve this, Jason Sveinbjornson spearheaded a private-party acquisition initiative, leveraging Vehicle Acquisition Network (VAN) to streamline the process. Over an eight-month period, the dealership successfully generated $400,000 in gross profit while also boosting service and detailing department revenue. With a stable but measured acquisition volume of 82 units, Knight proved that a well-executed private-party strategy could yield significant financial success.
The Challenge: Finding a Scalable Private-Party Acquisition Strategy
Like many dealerships, Knight needed a sustainable, cost-effective strategy to source used vehicles. While auctions provided inventory, they also introduced high fees, transportation costs, and unpredictable pricing. Trade-ins, while valuable, were inconsistent and dependent on retail sales volume. The dealership required a more controlled and repeatable acquisition strategy to supplement its inventory needs.
The Solution: Implementing VAN for Private-Party Acquisitions
To address these challenges, Jason and his team integrated VAN’s private-party acquisition platform into their dealership’s buying process.
Key Features Leveraged:
- FSBO Lead Aggregation – VAN’s platform pulled in private-party listings from multiple online sources, reducing the time spent searching for vehicles.
- AI Filtering – Automated filters removed dealers, salvage titles, and irrelevant listings, ensuring higher-quality leads.
- Process Tracking & Performance Reviews – Internal tracking ensured that every acquisition was measured for cost-effectiveness and profitability.
The Results: $400K in Gross Profit in Eight Months
By maintaining a steady and controlled private-party acquisition strategy, Knight achieved impressive financial returns with a measured acquisition volume of 82 units over eight months:
- $400K in total gross profit, including front-end and back-end earnings.
- Stable acquisition volume, acquiring 82 units, proving that success doesn’t require high-volume buying.
- Low average reconditioning costs of $854 per vehicle, ensuring strong margins.
- Additional revenue generated in service and detailing:
- $35K in detailing services revenue.
- $66.5K spent on reconditioning, contributing to service department profitability.
"I thought it was a screaming success. How can you sneeze at an additional $400K in gross profit in eight months?" - Jason Sveinbjornson
Key Takeaways: How Knight Automotive Group's Moose Jaw Stores Maximized VAN's Potential
Knight’s success was driven by consistent execution and disciplined acquisition management. This case proves that a well-structured private-party acquisition strategy doesn’t require high volume—just the right process.
What Made It Work:
✅Consistent Acquisition Volume – 82 units over eight months provided steady inventory flow without overwhelming resources.
✅Maximized Fixed Operations Revenue – Every vehicle acquired also contributed to service and detailing profits beyond just sales.
✅Efficiency in Reconditioning – Low recon costs ensured higher profit per unit.
✅Technology & Coaching Support – VAN’s dealer support, performance tracking, and AI-driven filtering tools streamlined the process.
Conclusion: A Scalable, Repeatable Success Model
Knight’s measured and disciplined private-party acquisition process delivered big results without requiring high-risk investments or large-scale volume. With VAN’s advanced sourcing tools, the dealership efficiently acquired profitable vehicles, generated additional revenue streams, and strengthened its overall used vehicle strategy.
Ready to Achieve Similar Results?
Visit buywithvan.com to see how VAN can help your dealership acquire more vehicles, boost profitability, and drive additional fixed operations revenue.
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